Logbook Example #5

Day 1

Day 2

Violations: There is a 30 minute break violation from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Day 1.

Explanation - 11 Hour Limit: After 10 consecutive hours off duty, the driver was eligible to drive for up to 11 hours beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Day 1, but only drove 9 hours before entering the sleeper berth. With only 8 hours in the sleeper berth , the calculation point does not change, so the driver had 2 hours remaining to drive at 3:00 a.m. on Day 2. After reaching the 11 hour limit at 5:00 a.m. on Day 2, the driver went off duty for at least 2 consecutive hours, making him or her eligible for the split sleeper berth provision. In other words, the driver accumulated at least 10 hours of rest using a combination of at least 8 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth (7:00 p.m. on Day 1 to 3:00 a.m. on Day 2) and another off duty break of at least 2 consecutive hours (5:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. on Day 2). This moves the calculation point to the end of the first of the two periods of rest, or 3:00 a.m. With 2 hours spent driving after 3:00 a.m., the driver had 9 remaining hours by 7:00 a.m. and used only 8 additional hours.

Explanation - 30 Minute Break: The driver was required to take at least 30 consecutive minutes off duty by 6:00 p.m. on Day 1 before continuing to drive. Since the driver did not complete this requirement until an hour later, the driver was in violation from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Day 1. On Day 2 the driver was on duty longer than 8 consecutive hours. This is perfectly legal. The rules only state that a driver may not drive after being on duty longer than 8 consecutive hours without first taking a 30 consecutive minute break. So remaining on duty without a break beyond 8 hours is legal unless any driving takes place. Since no driving took place after 3:00 p.m. on Day 2, no violation occurred on that day.

Explanation - 14 Hour Limit: After 10 consecutive hours off duty, the driver had 14 hours available at 10:00 a.m. on Day 1. By 7:00 p.m. on Day 1, the driver had 5 hours remaining (but only 2 hours of driving available). At 3:00 a.m. on Day 2, the driver still had 5 hours remaining, because any sleeper berth period of at least 8 but less than 10 consecutive hours is excluded from the 14 hour calculation. By 7:00 a.m. on Day 2, the driver had taken 8 consecutive hours in a sleeper berth plus another 2 consecutive hours off duty, making him or her eligible to use the split sleeper berth provision. This moves the 14 hour calculation point to 3:00 a.m. Therefore, at 7:00 a.m. on Day 2, the driver had 10 hours of time remaining (14 hour limit - 2 hours driving - 2 hours off duty = 10 total hours remaining) and used only 9 hours before the end of Day 2.

Logging Example #6

Explanation - 11 Hour Limit: After 10 consecutive hours off duty, the driver was eligible to drive for up to 11 hours beginning at midnight. The driver reached the 11 hour limit at 3:00 p.m., at which point he or she entered the sleeper berth for 8 consecutive hours. The 8 hour sleeper berth period, combined with the earlier 2 hour off duty period (in this case, a combination of sleeper berth and off duty time beginning at 9:00 a.m.), made the driver eligible for the split sleeper berth provision. That is, the driver accumulated at least 10 hours of rest using a combination of at least 8 (but less than 10) consecutive hours in a sleeper berth and another break of at least 2 (but less than 10) consecutive hours either off duty and/or in a sleeper berth. This moves the 11 hour calculation point to the end of the first of the two qualifying breaks, or 11:00 a.m. After 11:00 a.m., the driver accumulated 4 hours of driving time, leaving 7 hours to be used after 11:00 p.m.

Explanation - 30 Minute Break: Since the driver was never on duty beyond an 8 consecutive hour period without at least 30 minutes taken off duty, there are no violations of the 30 minute break provision in this example.

Explanation - 14 Hour Limit: After 10 consecutive hours off duty, the driver had 14 hours available beginning at midnight. The 14 hour limit was reached at 2:00 p.m., but the driver continued to drive, resulting in a 1 hour violation from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The driver then went into the sleeper berth for 8 consecutive hours, which enabled him or her to take advantage of the split sleeper berth provision. This moves the 14 hour calculation point to 11:00 a.m. Counting forward from there (and excluding the 8 hour sleeper berth period), the driver had 10 hours remaining at 11:00 p.m. and had no further violations. The fact that the driver returned to compliance after 11:00 p.m. does not remove the violation from 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. The driver should have taken the break at 2:00 p.m. to avoid the violation.

Logging Example #7

Day 1

Day 2

Violations: There is a violation of the 11 and 14 hour rules at 2:00 p.m. on Day 1.

Explanation - 11 Hour Limit: After 10 consecutive hours off duty prior to the start of Day 1, the driver had 14 hours of on duty time available and 11 hours of driving time available, starting at Midnight on Day 1. The driver performed driving duties during the following times on Day 1:

1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. (4 Hours)

6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. (4 Hours)

11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (4 Hours)

Given the above breakdown of driving hours, we can see that the driver had operated a CMV for 12 total hours (4 + 4 + 4) on Day 1 without taking a 10 consecutive hour break. So on Day 1, the 11 hour driving limit has been exceeded and a violation occurred at 2:00 p.m. On Day 2, the driver began driving at 1:00 a.m. after taking 10 consecutive hours off duty. This reset the drivers 11 and 14 hour limits, bringing the new calculation point to 1:00 a.m. After driving for 5 hours between 1:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., the driver never returned to driving again. Therefore, no violation occurred on Day 2.

Explanation - 30 Minute Break: On Day 1, the driver went on duty at midnight and would therefore need a minimum of a 30 minute break off duty in order to drive beyond 8:00 a.m. However, a 1 hour break was completed at 5 a.m. satisfying the 30 minute break provision and allowing the driver to continue driving without violating the break provision. On Day 2, the driver went on duty at 1:00 a.m. which is the new starting calculation point after taking a 10 consecutive-hour break. In order to continue driving beyond 9 a.m. (8 hours after the starting calculation point), the driver would need to take a minimum of 30 minutes off duty or in the sleeper berth. However, at 6 a.m. the driver switched to on duty and remained there until switching to the sleeper berth at 11 a.m. The driver was allowed to be on duty beyond 9 a.m. and only driving would have been prohibited. Since the driver did not operate a CMV for the rest of the day, no violation occurred.

Explanation - 14 Hour Limit: After 10 consecutive hours off duty prior to the start of Day 1, the driver had 14 hours of on duty time available starting at Midnight on Day 1. While the driver would have been allowed to remain on duty indefinitely, no driving was allowed after 14 hours (2:00 p.m.). Since the driver continued to drive into the 15th hour, a 14 hour rule violation occurred from 2:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. On Day 2, the driver began driving at 1:00 a.m. after taking 10 consecutive hours off duty. That made 1:00 a.m. the new starting calculation point for the 14 hour limit. Since the driver only performed driving duties from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., well before the 14 hour limit, no violation occurred.

Logging Example #8

Day 1

Day 2

Violations: There is a 30 minute break violation in this example from 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m and 11:00 p.m. to Midnight on Day 1.

Explanation - 11 Hour Limit: On Day 1, the driver drove from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (5 hours) then again from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (4 hours) and finally from 11:00 p.m. to Midnight (1 hour). Therefore, the driver drove for a total of 10 hours on Day 1 (5 + 4 + 1) and never violated the 11 hour limit. On Day 2, the driver only drove between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. for a total of 4 hours, thus, no violation of the 11 hour limit occurred.

Explanation - 30 Minute Break: On Day 1, the calculation point for the 30 minute break provision is 10:00 a.m. In order to continue driving beyond 6:00 p.m. (8 hours after the initial starting calculation point) a 30 minute break off duty must be taken. Since the driver never took a break off duty, a 30 minute break violation occurred between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. The driver then went on duty between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m., before violating the 30 minute break provision again by driving a CMV between 11:00 p.m. and Midnight. In order to remain legal, the driver should have taken his/her 30 minute break by 6:00 p.m. On Day 2, the driver was only on duty for a total of 7 consecutive hours which would not require a 30 minute break.

Explanation - 14 Hour Limit: After taking 10 consecutive hours off duty, the driver had 14 hours available beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Day 1. The driver switched into the sleeper berth at Midnight, exactly 14 hours later. Since the driver remained in the sleeper for 10 consecutive hours, the 14 hour limit reset and the new starting calculation point was then 10:00 a.m. on Day 2. The driver only remained on duty from the hours of 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. for a total of 7 hours of on duty time on Day 2. The driver remained legal on both days and no violation occurred.

An 8 hour sleeper berth period, by itself, does not provide additional driving time, but it is always excluded from the 14 hour calculation.

Though the 8 hour sleeper berth period could be “paired” with either of the 2 hour breaks (under the sleeper berth provision), pairing it with the most recent (second) break is most advantageous for the driver.

Though the driver had a violation, he or she is not required to take 10 consecutive hours off duty in order to return to compliance. Because the driver already had a 2 hour break, the driver was able to take 8 consecutive hours in a sleeper berth to obtain the “equivalent” of 10 hours off duty using the sleeper berth provision.

The 14 hour on duty limit, 11 hour driving limit, and 30 minute break provisions do not effect on duty time. They only effect when a driver may or may not operate a CMV. A driver may stay on duty indefinitely without any breaks and no HOS regulation would be violated. But driving beyond the 14 hour duty limit, 11 hour driving limit, or failing to take the required 30 minute break within 8 hours will cause a violation to occur.

Even though the drivers 14 hour limit expired at 3:00 p.m., it was legal for the driver to remain on duty. After the 14 hour limit expired, the driver may not continue driving duties until a 10 consecutive hour break is taken. However, a driver may continue to remain on duty as long as no driving tasks are performed.

Note that the hours of 10:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Day 1 are legal. While a 30 minute off duty break is required for driving time, it is not required for on duty time.

CDL:

Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:

Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.

Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.

Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.

Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.

Logbook:

A written or electronic record of a driver's duty status which must be maintained at all times. The driver records the amount of time spent driving, on-duty not driving, in the sleeper berth, or off duty. The enforcement of the Hours Of Service Rules (HOS) are based upon the entries put in a driver's logbook.

Sleeper Berth:

The portion of the tractor behind the seats which acts as the "living space" for the driver. It generally contains a bed (or bunk beds), cabinets, lights, temperature control knobs, and 12 volt plugs for power.

CSA:

Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)

The CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicle

FMCSA:

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

The FMCSA was established within the Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000. Their primary mission is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries.

What Does The FMCSA Do?

Commercial Drivers' Licenses

Data and Analysis

Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement

Research and Technology

Safety Assistance

Support and Information Sharing

CMV:

Commercial Motor Vehicle

A CMV is a vehicle that is used as part of a business, is involved in interstate commerce, and may fit any of these descriptions:

Weighs 10,001 pounds or more

Has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more

Is designed or used to transport 16 or more passengers (including the driver) not for compensation

Is designed or used to transport 9 or more passengers (including the driver) for compensation

Is transporting hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placards

Fm:

Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager

The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.

OWI:

Operating While Intoxicated

Review Questions - Click On The Picture To Begin...

Which log below contains at least one violation?

Day 1

Day 2

Day 2

There are no violations in this example

Both day 1 and day 2

Day 1

Quote From The CDL Manual:

Day 1

Day 2

Violations: There is a 30 minute break violation in this example from 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m and 11:00 p.m. to Midnight on Day 1.

Explanation - 11 Hour Limit: On Day 1, the driver drove from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (5 hours) then again from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (4 hours) and finally from 11:00 p.m. to Midnight (1 hour). Therefore, the driver drove for a total of 10 hours on Day 1 (5 + 4 + 1) and never violated the 11 hour limit. On Day 2, the driver only drove between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. for a total of 4 hours, thus, no violation of the 11 hour limit occurred.

Explanation - 30 Minute Break: On Day 1, the calculation point for the 30 minute break provision is 10:00 a.m. In order to continue driving beyond 6:00 p.m. (8 hours after the initial starting calculation point) a 30 minute break off duty must be taken. Since the driver never took a break off duty, a 30 minute break violation occurred between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. The driver then went on duty between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m., before violating the 30 minute break provision again by driving a CMV between 11:00 p.m. and Midnight. In order to remain legal, the driver should have taken his/her 30 minute break by 6:00 p.m. On Day 2, the driver was only on duty for a total of 7 consecutive hours which would not require a 30 minute break.

Explanation - 14 Hour Limit: After taking 10 consecutive hours off duty, the driver had 14 hours available beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Day 1. The driver switched into the sleeper berth at Midnight, exactly 14 hours later. Since the driver remained in the sleeper for 10 consecutive hours, the 14 hour limit reset and the new starting calculation point was then 10:00 a.m. on Day 2. The driver only remained on duty from the hours of 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. for a total of 7 hours of on duty time on Day 2. The driver remined legal on both days and no violation occurred.

Next

A 30 minute break violation occurs on the below example. What day and time does the violation occur?

Day 1

Day 2

Day 2 at 3:00 p.m.

Day 2 at 2:00 p.m.

Day 1 at 6:00 p.m.

Day 2 at 3:00 a.m.

Quote From The CDL Manual:

Day 1

Day 2

Violations: There is a 30 minute break violation from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Day 1.

Explanation - 11 Hour Limit: After 10 consecutive hours off duty, the driver was eligible to drive for up to 11 hours beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Day 1, but only drove 9 hours before entering the sleeper berth. With only 8 hours in the sleeper berth, the calculation point does not change, so the driver had 2 hours remaining to drive at 3:00 a.m. on Day 2. After reaching the 11 hour limit at 5:00 a.m. on Day 2, the driver went off duty for at least 2 consecutive hours, making him or her eligible for the split sleeper berth provision. In other words, the driver accumulated at least 10 hours of rest using a combination of at least 8 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth (7:00 p.m. on Day 1 to 3:00 a.m. on Day 2) and another off duty break of at least 2 consecutive hours (5:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. on Day 2). This moves the calculation point to the end of the first of the two periods of rest, or 3:00 a.m. With 2 hours spent driving after 3:00 a.m., the driver had 9 remaining hours by 7:00 a.m. and used only 8 additional hours.

Explanation - 30 Minute Break: The driver was required to take at least 30 consecutive minutes off duty by 6:00 p.m. on Day 1 before continuing to drive. Since the driver did not complete this requirement until an hour later, the driver was in violation from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Day 1. On Day 2 the driver was on duty longer than 8 consecutive hours. This is perfectly legal. The rules only state that a driver may not drive after being on duty longer than 8 consecutive hours without first taking a 30 consecutive minute break. So remaining on duty without a break beyond 8 hours is legal unless any driving takes place. Since no driving took place after 3:00 p.m. on Day 2, no violation occurred on that day.

Explanation - 14 Hour Limit: After 10 consecutive hours off duty, the driver had 14 hours available at 10:00 a.m. on Day 1. By 7:00 p.m. on Day 1, the driver had 5 hours remaining (but only 2 hours of driving available). At 3:00 a.m. on Day 2, the driver still had 5 hours remaining, because any sleeper berth period of at least 8 but less than 10 consecutive hours is excluded from the 14 hour calculation. By 7:00 a.m. on Day 2, the driver had taken 8 consecutive hours in a sleeper berth plus another 2 consecutive hours off duty, making him or her eligible to use the split sleeper berth provision. This moves the 14 hour calculation point to 3:00 a.m. Therefore, at 7:00 a.m. on Day 2, the driver had 10 hours of time remaining (14 hour limit - 2 hours driving - 2 hours off duty = 10 total hours remaining) and used only 9 hours before the end of Day 2.

Prev

Next

What violation occurs at 2:00 p.m. on this example?

No violation occurs at 2:00 p.m.

30 minute break violation

14 hour rule violation

11 hour rule violation

Quote From The CDL Manual:

Explanation - 11 Hour Limit: After 10 consecutive hours off duty, the driver was eligible to drive for up to 11 hours beginning at midnight. The driver reached the 11 hour limit at 3:00 p.m., at which point he or she entered the sleeper berth for 8 consecutive hours. The 8 hour sleeper berth period, combined with the earlier 2 hour off duty period (in this case, a combination of sleeper berth and off duty time beginning at 9:00 a.m.), made the driver eligible for the split sleeper berth provision. That is, the driver accumulated at least 10 hours of rest using a combination of at least 8 (but less than 10) consecutive hours in a sleeper berth and another break of at least 2 (but less than 10) consecutive hours either off duty and/or in a sleeper berth. This moves the 11 hour calculation point to the end of the first of the two qualifying breaks, or 11:00 a.m. After 11:00 a.m., the driver accumulated 4 hours of driving time, leaving 7 hours to be used after 11:00 p.m.

Explanation - 30 Minute Break: Since the driver was never on duty beyond an 8 consecutive hour period without at least 30 minutes taken off duty, there are no violations of the 30 minute break provision in this example.

Explanation - 14 Hour Limit: After 10 consecutive hours off duty, the driver had 14 hours available beginning at midnight. The 14 hour limit was reached at 2:00 p.m., but the driver continued to drive, resulting in a 1 hour violation from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The driver then went into the sleeper berth for 8 consecutive hours, which enabled him or her to take advantage of the split sleeper berth provision. This moves the 14 hour calculation point to 11:00 a.m. Counting forward from there (and excluding the 8 hour sleeper berth period), the driver had 10 hours remaining at 11:00 p.m. and had no further violations. The fact that the driver returned to compliance after 11:00 p.m. does not remove the violation from 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. The driver should have taken the break at 2:00 p.m. to avoid the violation.

Prev

Next

What violation occurs on the below example?

Day 1

Day 2

There is an 11 hour rule violation only

There is an 11 hour rule violation as well as a 14 hour rule violation

There is an 11 hour violation as well as a 30 minute break violation

There is a 14 hour rule violation only

Quote From The CDL Manual:

Day 1

Day 2

Violations: There is a violation of the 11 and 14 hour rules at 2:00 p.m. on Day 1.

Explanation - 11 Hour Limit: After 10 consecutive hours off duty prior to the start of Day 1, the driver had 14 hours of on duty time available and 11 hours of driving time available, starting at Midnight on Day 1. The driver performed driving duties during the following times on Day 1:

1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. (4 Hours)

6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. (4 Hours)

11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (4 Hours)

Given the above breakdown of driving hours, we can see that the driver had operated a CMV for 12 total hours (4 + 4 + 4) on Day 1 without taking a 10 consecutive hour break. So on Day 1, the 11 hour driving limit has been exceeded and a violation occurred at 2:00 p.m. On Day 2, the driver began driving at 1:00 a.m. after taking 10 consecutive hours off duty. This reset the drivers 11 and 14 hour limits, bringing the new calculation point to 1:00 a.m. After driving for 5 hours between 1:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., the driver never returned to driving again. Therefore, no violation occurred on Day 2.

Explanation - 30 Minute Break: On Day 1, the driver went on duty at midnight and would therefore need a minimum of a 30 minute break off duty in order to drive beyond 8:00 a.m. However, a 1 hour break was completed at 5 a.m. satisfying the 30 minute break provision and allowing the driver to continue driving without violating the break provision. On Day 2, the driver went on duty at 1:00 a.m. which is the new starting calculation point after taking a 10 consecutive-hour break. In order to continue driving beyond 9 a.m. (8 hours after the starting calculation point), the driver would need to take a minimum of 30 minutes off duty or in the sleeper berth. However, at 6 a.m. the driver switched to on duty and remained there until switching to the sleeper berth at 11 a.m. The driver was allowed to be on duty beyond 9 a.m. and only driving would have been prohibited. Since the driver did not operate a CMV for the rest of the day, no violation occurred.

Explanation - 14 Hour Limit: After 10 consecutive hours off duty prior to the start of Day 1, the driver had 14 hours of on duty time available starting at Midnight on Day 1. While the driver would have been allowed to remain on duty indefinitely, no driving was allowed after 14 hours (2:00 p.m.).

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